Today's Headline News

Let Girls Learn: White House's Global Education Initiative

The White House launched March 3 the “Let Girls Learn” initiative that would increase efforts to help young girls across the world attend and complete school, Bustle reported. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama took to the podium to announce the program together at a press conference. The #LetGirlsLearn hashtag is now trending on Twitter. This program is geared to empower local leaders to implement lasting solutions and to reduce barriers that prevent adolescent girls from completing their education.

Deedee Corradini, the former mayor of Salt Lake City who fought tirelessly to get women's ski jumping included in the Winter Olympics, died March 1st at her home in Park City, USA TODAY reported. She was 70. Corradini died after a six-month battle with lung cancer, the non-smoking type, according to a statement released by her family. Corradini was a WeNews' 21 Leaders in 2012 for being her fight to get jumping female atheltes participate in the Olympics.

A 13-year-old victim of sexual abuse, who was raped by a local mullah in northern Takhar province eight months ago, is now pregnant, Tolo News reported March 3. The girl’s family sent her to a local mosque to receive a religious education from a 35-year-old mullah who raped her and then warned the family from raising their voice against him. "He warned them that he would kill them all. So they did not disclose the crime to anyone until eight months later," said Razm Ara Hawash, the provincial head of women affairs. The victim is currently in the care of the child protection center in Takhar.